Arts Funding Process & Timeline

Applicant must submit all required information in accordance with instructions to the Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) by 5 p.m. on May 1, 2015, to be considered for FY 2016 funding. The Commission on Cultural Affairs will only consider complete applications.

Budget forms are provided and must be used. Additional sheets will not be accepted.

The entire application must be typed using at least 12-point font.

Narratives must not exceed five pages, and line spacing of 1.5 and 1-inch margins on all sides must be used. Please indent at the beginning of paragraphs to help readers navigate the narrative easier. Times New Roman font or other serif-type font is preferred. Shorter than 5-full pages is preferable.

Narratives must re-state the question being answered. Questions must be in the order listed in the instructions.

Specific artists must be named as well as the specific program(s).

Applications submitted by April 1, 2015, will be reviewed by OCA staff with feedback by April 15, 2015.

After Commission review, appropriation levels will be recommended to the City Council for final action as part of the city’s overall FY 2016 budget process.

A schedule of the funding process can be found beginning on page 5 of this application.

Project Period

Applications must address projects occurring between October 1, 2015, and December 31, 2016. Please note that due to the city’s fiscal year, approved projects in October and November will not receive funding before they occur.

Application Deadline

The completed application must be collated with all required attachments according to stated guidelines. Handwritten applications will not be accepted. To be considered, applications must arrive no later than 5 p.m. May 1, 2015, at the following address: Office of Cultural Affairs, Arts Funding Program, 300 S. Providence Road, PO Box 6015, Columbia, MO 65205.

If mailed, applications must be received in the OCA on or before 5 p.m., May 1, 2015.

Due to the city’s internal mailing system, please allow extra time. This is not a postmark deadline.

Timeline

January 30, 2015... Applications first available

April 1, 2015...Optional early deadline for OCA staff review of application for completeness

April 15, 2015...Staff feedback to organizations submitting for the optional draft review

May 1, 2015...Application due, 5 p.m. This is not a postmark deadline. Mail or deliver to: Office of Cultural Affair, Arts Funding Program, 300 S. Providence Road, P.O. Box 601, Columbia, MO 65205If mailed, applications must be received in the OCA on or before 5 p.m., May 1, 2015. Due to the city’s internal mailing system, please allow extra time.

June 8, 2015...Commission on Cultural Affairs funding work session, 5 p.m. Contact the OCA to confirm meeting location. Meeting is open to the public; applicants are encouraged to attend to observe

TBD...Letters to applicants with Commissioner’s funding recommendations and comments

July 13, 2015...Commission’s public hearing on funding recommendations. Contact the OCA to confirm the meeting date, time and location

August 2015 (date TBA)...Funding recommendations presented to the City Council for approval during the city’s overall budget process

October 2015...Contracts prepared and presented to City Council for approval; contracts sent to arts organizations with information regarding stipulations and revisions

December 15, 2015...Contract, revised narrative, budget and response to any stipulation(s) are due back to the OCA. Funding cannot be released until all paperwork is completed and on file with the OCA. Failure to return the executed contract and required revisions by the due date may result in the loss of city funding for current fiscal year.

Please Note

Due to the city's fiscal year, projects in October and November will not receive funding before they occur.

City funding is conditional on meeting the timeline herein set out. If guidelines are not met, the Commission on Cultural Affairs may recommend to City Council that a funding award be withdrawn.

If funding is received, a final report of the project is due within 45 days after its end date; 10% of each contract will be held until the report is submitted. If the report is not received after 90 days, the 10% is forfeited.

Additional Annual Funding Information

Contact the OCA for an application or use the below-listed resources, including the online form, to apply. Applications in a suitable format for persons with disabilities are available upon request.